Method and system for creating a flood barrier

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for compacting material in a unit. In one embodiment the compacting apparatus comprises an attaching device, a base coupled to the attaching device, and a head coupled to the base, wherein the head comprises at least one sloping face. The head is lowered within the unit to compact material within the unit. As force is applied by the head, the sloping face distributes the force in a direction normal to the slope of the face. This compacts the material within the unit and prevents the formation of voids within the unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for creating aflood barrier. The barrier is a series of interconnecting mesh andfabric, framed enclosures that are filled with soil and compacted. Themethod of compacting the soil is crucial to the stability and strengthof the barrier system. In one embodiment, a positionable, invertedpyramid head is used to force the soil to the outermost vertices of eachindividual enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flooding is a force of nature that yearly destroys billions of dollarsof property and needlessly kills people of all ages. The force of movingwater can carve through solid rock over time. It can pull houses fromtheir foundations and pull crops out of the ground. Many of the majorrivers in the United States have been tamed through the use of dams andlevees. The dams allow rapidly rising water to fill a predeterminedbasin during heavy rains, runoff and snow melts. That excess water canthen be released over a long period of time in a safe manner. Likewise,a levee is an artificially raised river bank. If the river level rises,the levee is designed to contain the swollen volume of running water.

The design of levees must take into account many factors, including thehydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces exerted by the flowing river. The USArmy Corps of Engineers is the premier designer of levees, and yet onlya small percentage of the rivers in this country have levees, whetherpartial or complete. If an excessive amount of snow falls in the winter,then the melt from that snow mass will exceed the containment capacityof the downstream river banks and levees. When this happens, the wateroverflows the banks and floods.

The 2009 Red River flood along the Red River of the North in NorthDakota and Minnesota in the United States and Manitoba in Canada broughtrecord flood levels to the Fargo-Moorhead area. The flood was a resultof saturated and frozen ground, Spring snowmelt exacerbated byadditional rain and snow storms, and virtually flat terrain.Furthermore, the Red River of the North flows from the United Statesinto Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Unlike the vast majority ofrivers in the United States, it flows northward, which means meltingsnow and river ice, as well as runoff from its tributaries, often createice dams, which cause the river to overflow. The valley is essentiallyflat, leading to overland flooding, with no high ground on which to takerefuge.

Warnings for the 2009 flood occurred as early as March 9 when theNational Weather Service warned that the Fargo-Moorhead area could see asignificant flood of between 35 feet (11 m) and 36 feet (11 m). Aspreparations began for the flooding on March 16, North Dakota GovernorJohn Hoeven declared a statewide disaster in anticipation of floodingacross the state. On March 19, the National Weather Service raised thepredicted flood level in the Fargo area to between 37 feet (11 m) and 40feet (12 m). The city began filling sandbags on March 20. Inanticipation of a rain and snow storm, the predicted crest level wasraised on March 22 to a range from 39 feet (12 m) to 41 feet (12 m).

Volunteers continued preparing sandbags, with 560,000 bags filled bylate March 22, out of an expected 1.5 million to 2 million needed. ByMarch 24, residents in Fargo-Moorhead had filled over 1 million sandbagsand were attempting to fill a total of 2 million by the 26th. A levee inGeorgetown, Minn. was raised another two feet, and emergency dikes werebuilt in Fargo, Moorhead, Harwood, Grafton and Richland County. And evenwith these preparations, the predicted flood crest was raised again to42 feet. In other words, there was a rapid and changing environment thatwas difficult to anticipate. And even with volunteers, there is a needfor a mechanized method of preparing more substantial barriers thansandbags.

One system for creating a temporary levee is made by Hesco Bastion USA.Its Concertainer® units are a geotextile lined unit for general use asan earth filled gabion. The units are suitable for filling with earth,sand, gravel, crushed rock and other granular materials. Referring toFIG. 1, the units 100 can be placed on river bank 14 adjacent to theriver 12. As the river 12 rises, the units 100 add a barrier that iscapable of withstanding the forces from the rising water. FIGS. 2 and 3provide a more detailed view of the units 100. Note that each unit 100has a number of individual compartments 102, 104, 106. Each of thesecompartments is generally cubical in shape having an opening on the topfor receiving the fill material. The fill material is contained withinthe compartment by a wire mesh frame 114 that lends form to thegeotextile material. Each unit 100 has at least one compartment 102.Units 100 can be linked together to form a barrier of any desiredlength. For instance, in one embodiment, the unit 100 has fivecompartments 102, each being three feet in width and depth and four feetin height. The set of five compartments creates a barrier ofapproximately 15 feet in length. Multiple units can be attached to eachother using a pin 118 to interlock the end vertices of the unit. Theunits are usually filled by hand. As shown in FIG. 3, soil is scoopedinto the units by hand and a person 20 actually stands on top of it andmoves the soil with a shovel 16 to distribute soil within the unit. Theworker 20 has only his weight to compress the fill.

As useful as the Concertainer® units are, each must still be properlyfilled with material to provide the weight and stability required towithstand the turbulent currents produced in floods. Specifically, thedirt or other fill material must be properly packed into the bottomedges around the bottom perimeter of each compartment. Failure toproperly pack fill into those spaces results in voids 18. The voids 18can create a risk of the compartment sagging and underwash. If the soilunder the unit begins to erode because flowing water has infiltratedbetween the unit and the ground underneath it, the entire unit cancollapse and fail to act as a Barrier.

Therefore a need exists for an improved method of filling and compactingbarriers such as the Concertainer® units described above. This improvedmethod should allow for the rapid deployment, filling and compaction ofthe soil inside the units 100. Such a method should also minimize theneed of human labor to accomplish the deployment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the apparatus and methods of thepresent invention may be had by reference to the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a unit deployed on a river bank;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a series of units deployed on a riverbank;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a person filling a unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compacting apparatus in oneembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compacting apparatus in oneembodiment comprising a rotation table.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,”“bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “outer,”“inner,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” andsimilar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these termshave reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and areutilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific width, length, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Several embodiments of Applicant's invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will beidentified by identical numbers throughout all figures. The inventionillustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compacting apparatus 200 in oneembodiment. In one embodiment the apparatus 200 comprises an attachingdevice 206 which is coupled to a base 204 and a head 202 which iscoupled to a base 204.

The attaching device 206 can comprise any device which couples theapparatus 200 to equipment. As shown the attaching device 206 is coupledto a mechanical arm 300. As used herein a “mechanical arm” refers to anypiece of equipment which can maneuver the compacting apparatus. Themechanical arm 300 can comprise the arm of a tractor, back hoe, or anyother equipment which can be used to maneuver the apparatus 300. Asdepicted the attaching device 206 attaches at two hinge points. In otherembodiments the attaching device 206 attaches at a single hinge point,whereas in other embodiments the attaching device 206 comprises morethan two hinge points. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the attaching device206 couples to the mechanical arm 300 in such a way that the angle ofthe apparatus 200 can be controlled. Thus, while the apparatus 200 isdepicted as pointed downward, by manipulating the mechanical arm 300,the apparatus 200 can be pointed in any desired direction. As anexample, if the unit 100 is on an inclined surface, the apparatus 200can be positioned so as to enter the inclined unit 100. In oneembodiment the attaching device 206 is removeably coupled to themechanical arm 300.

As noted the attaching device 206 is coupled to the base 204. Theattaching device 206 can be welded, soldered, or attached to the base204 in any method known in the art. In one embodiment the base 204 andthe attaching device 206 comprise a single piece and are thus integrallyattached. The base 204 can comprise virtually any shape. In oneembodiment the base 204 comprises a smaller diameter than the head 202.In one embodiment the base 204 serves to add weight to the apparatus200. The apparatus 200 can be made from a variety of materials includingsteel, iron, etc.

The head 202 can be coupled to the base 204 in any of the mannerspreviously discussed. In one embodiment the head 202 is sized so as tofit within the internal area of the unit 100. As will be discussed, thehead 202 is placed within the unit 100 to compact material 16 loaded inthe unit 100.

In one embodiment the head 202 comprises a top end 202 a and a bottomend 202 b. In one embodiment the top end 202 a comprises a widerdiameter than said bottom end 202 b. In one embodiment the bottom end202 b comprises a point. As depicted the top end 202 a comprises arectangular shape whereas the bottom end 202 b comprises a point. Asshown, the head 202 comprises a pyramidal shape. The head 202 furthercomprises four sloping faces 202 d which begin at the top end 202 a andangle downward to intersect at the bottom end 202 b. A sloping facerefers to any planar face which comprises a slope. The angle at whichthe sloping faces 202 d slopes depends upon the height of the apparatus200. Two sloping faces surfaces 202 d intersect at an edge 202 c. Asdepicted there are four edges 202 c. In an embodiment wherein the topend 202 a comprises a triangular shape, there are three sloping faces202 d and three edges 202 c. Virtually any number of edges 202 c can beutilized, just as virtually any shape for the top end 202 a and thebottom end 202 b may be used. Likewise, virtually any number of slopingfaces 202 d can be utilized. In one embodiment wherein the top end 202 ais circular, the head 202 does not comprise any edges and consists of asingle sloping face 202 d.

In one embodiment, as a force in the downward direction is applied tothe apparatus 200, the sloping face 202 d distributes the force in adirection normal to its slope. Referring back to FIG. 4, as a downwardforce is applied to and/or by the apparatus 200, each sloping face 202 ddistributes the force in a direction normal to the slope of the face.Therefore, each sloping face 202 d and each edge 202 c presses material16 downward and outward to the outer periphery of the unit 100. Thiscauses the material 16 to compact. If voids 18, such as those depictedin FIG. 3, exist, the downward and outward force from the head 202 willcause these voids 18 to be compacted. As noted, the sloping face 202 dpresses material 16 downward and outward. This causes the outermostvertices of the unit 100 to be compacted. Therefore, the bottom cornersof each unit 100, which are susceptible to void formation, are alsocompacted. Thus, the force distributing qualities of the head 202decreases or eliminates voids 18. Decreasing or eliminating these voids18 significantly increases the stability and effectiveness of the units100 in preventing flooding. By having a stable base, via the eliminationof voids 18, flood water is preventing from eating away at the voids 18and thus compromising the unit 100.

As noted, virtually any shaped head 202 can be utilized. In oneembodiment the shape of the top end 202 a of the head 202 substantiallyconforms with the shape of the unit 100 to be compacted. For example, ifthe unit 100 is in the shape of a pentagon, in one embodiment the topend 202 a of the head 202 is also in the shape of a pentagon. In such anembodiment the force distributing properties of the sloping faces 202 dcompact material 16 in a direction normal to the slope, thus preventingand eliminating any voids. Likewise, in one embodiment wherein the unit100 is in the shape of a rectangle, the head top end 202 a alsocomprises the shape of a rectangle. In one embodiment the top end 202 aof the head 202 comprises a smaller diameter than the inner diameter ofthe unit 100. This ensures the top end 202 a of the head 202 is able toenter into the unit 100 and compact material 16. In one embodiment thetop end 202 a substantially conforms to the area of the opening. In onesuch embodiment the top end 202 a fills from about 70% to about 95% ofthe available area of the opening of the unit 100. In one embodiment thelargest diameter of the apparatus is less than the inner diameter of theunit 100. As used herein “diameter” refers to the greatest distancebetween two points on an object that lie in the same plane. Thus, thediameter of the top end 202 a of the head 202 is the distance from thebottom left corner to the top right corner in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compacting apparatus in oneembodiment comprising a rotation table 400. The rotation table 400allows the apparatus 200 to rotate. In one embodiment the rotation table400 allows the apparatus 200 to rotate along a substantially verticalaxis. The rotation table 400, in one embodiment, allows the apparatus200 to freely rotate. Such an embodiment provides flexibility as theoperator need only position the apparatus 200 over the unit 100 and thefreely rotating apparatus 200 will automatically align itself into theproper position. The rotation table 400 can comprise ball bearings orother such friction reducing devices to allow the apparatus to rotate.In other embodiments the rotation provided by the rotation table 400 canbe controlled. For example, in one embodiment an operator can manuallyrotate the apparatus 200 along the rotation table 400. This can beaccomplished using hydraulics, drive shafts, gears, actuators, or othermethods known in the art. One advantage in having an apparatus 200 whichcan rotate is that the equipment, for example, a backhoe, can remain inone location while compacting many different units. Referring back toFIG. 2, a single backhoe could compact the adjacent compartments 102,104, 106 without having to move. Instead, the mechanical arm 300approaches each unit, compacts the material, and then moves to the nextunit. Because the apparatus 200 can rotate, the apparatus 200 can alignitself to match the proper orientation of the unit. This increases thespeed with which the apparatus 200 can compact units. The rotation table400 can be located anywhere above the head 202. In one embodiment therotation table 400 is located above the base 204, as depicted, whereasin other embodiments the rotation table is located below the base.

In one embodiment the apparatus 200 further comprises a vibratingdevice. The vibrating device can be located at any location on theapparatus 200. In one embodiment the vibrating device is located on thebase 204, whereas in other embodiments the vibrating device is locatedon the attaching device 206. In still another embodiment the mechanicalarm 300 comprises a vibrating device. Vibrating the material 16 in theunit promotes compaction of the material 16.

While a compacting apparatus has been described, now a method ofcompacting will be discussed. First is the step of affixing a compactingapparatus 200 to a mechanical arm, wherein said compacting apparatus 200comprises an attaching device 206 coupled to a base 204, and whereinsaid base 204 is coupled to a head 202, wherein said head 202 comprisesat least one sloping face. Next, the head 202 is positioned above anopening in a unit 100, wherein said unit 100 comprises a material 16.Thereafter the head 202 is lowered such that said head 202 makes contactwith said material 16. Finally, the material 16 is compacted with thehead 202. The compacting step can use the weight of the apparatus 200 tocompact the material 16. In another embodiment force is applied by theequipment. In one embodiment the force applied comprises a substantiallydownward force. As noted above, in one embodiment the sloping forcedistributes the applied force in a direction normal to the slope of thesloping face.

In one embodiment the compacting step comprises compacting said material16 downward and outward to the outer periphery of said unit 100. In oneembodiment the compacting step reduces voids 18 formed in the unit 100.In another embodiment the compacting further comprises vibrating saidapparatus 200 which further helps compact the material 16. As notedabove, in one embodiment the apparatus 200 can be rotated along asubstantially vertical axis.

In one embodiment the method of compacting further comprises the step offilling said unit 100 with said material 16. The unit 100 can be filledany time prior to the compacting step. In one embodiment the material 16comprises dirt, soil, sand, and/or combinations thereof. The material 16can comprise virtually any substance which can fill the unit 100. In oneembodiment the entire unit 100 is filled with material 16 beforecompaction begins. In yet another embodiment the unit 100 is onlypartially filled with material 16 before compaction begins. In such anembodiment the unit 100 is filled at between about 30 and about 60%capacity and the material 16 is compacted as previously discussed.Thereafter, additional material 16 is added to the unit. In oneembodiment, after additional material 16 has been added, the material 16is compacted as previously discussed.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION

The following clauses are offered as further description of thedisclosed invention.

1. A compacting apparatus comprising: an attaching device; a basecoupled to said attaching device; a head coupled to said base; whereinsaid head comprises four sloping faces.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said head comprises a top end and a bottom end.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2 wherein said top end comprises a greater diameter than saidbottom end.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom endcomprises a point.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said headcomprises a pyramidal shape.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising a vibrating device.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said attaching device is removeably coupled to a mechanical arm.9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises arotation table.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said rotation tableis located between said attaching device and said base.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said head is freely rotatable beneath saidrotation table.
 12. A system for compacting a material, said systemcomprising: a compacting apparatus comprising: an attaching device; abase coupled to said attaching device; a head coupled to said base;wherein said head comprises four sloping faces; a unit for holding amaterial, wherein said unit comprises an opening.
 13. The system ofclaim 12 wherein said head is sized so as to fit within said opening ofsaid unit.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein said head has a similarshape as does said opening of said unit.
 15. A method of compacting amaterial, said method comprising the steps of: a. affixing a compactingapparatus to a mechanical arm, wherein said compacting apparatuscomprises an attaching device coupled to a base, and wherein said baseis coupled to a head, wherein said head comprises four sloping faces; b.positioning said head above an opening in a unit, wherein said unitcomprises a material; c. lowering said head such that said head makescontact with said material; d. compacting said material with said head.16. The method of claim 15 wherein said compacting of step d) comprisesapplying a force upon said material.
 17. The method of claim 16 whereinsaid force comprises force exerted by said arm onto said apparatus. 18.The method of claim 16 wherein said force comprises a substantiallydownward force.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein said sloping facedistributes said force in a direction normal to said slope.
 20. Themethod of claim 15 wherein said compacting of step d) comprisescompacting said material downward and outward to the outer periphery ofsaid unit.
 21. The method of claim 15 wherein said compacting of step d)reduces voids formed in said unit.
 22. The method of claim 15 whereinsaid affixing comprises affixing an apparatus comprising a head, whereinsaid head comprises a top end and a bottom end.
 23. The method of claim22 wherein said affixing further comprises affixing a head wherein saidtop end comprises a shape which has a similar shape to said unit. 24.The method of claim 15 wherein said compacting of step d) furthercomprises vibrating said compacting apparatus.
 25. The method of claim15 wherein said positioning further comprises rotating said apparatusalong a substantially vertical axis.
 26. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising the step of filling said unit with said material, whereinsaid filling step occurs prior to step b).
 27. The method of claim 15further comprising the step of partially filling said unit with saidmaterial prior to said compacting of step d).
 28. The method of claim 27further comprising adding additional material after said compacting ofstep d.)
 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step offurther compacting said material with said head after adding additionalmaterial.